Sunstrike

[Beemer]

Any good ideas on how to beat sunstrike? I'm often asked why I don't ride to work in Palmy but the fact is, it's hard enough to see where I'm going in the car with sunnies and the visors down, let alone having the sun stream straight into my helmet and blind me!

I've got a tinted visor but at about 8am the sun is so low that it's almost impossible to see where I'm going. The same is true of the trip home about 4.30pm.

What do you guys do to get around it? Riding one-handed (with the other shading my face) is not always an option!

[Oakie]

Arghhhh! 6 hours too late! I re-licensed the car on-line this very morning.

EDIT ... this random post is explained a little further down.

[James Deuce]

I used to think Oakie was normal......

On the topic of sunstrike, I pretty much ride everywhere with my eyes closed so no problems at all for me.

Actually, I got a VPS (http://www.nolan.it/)system for my Nolan N100E. Bloody Brilliant.

[Warr]

sunstrike
People put a strip of black insulation tape just above eye level so by tilting your head down you can shade your eyes.
I havent employed this method yet.... but may do as sunstrike is more likely with winter riding.

[Motu]

Turn around and go the other way is first preference.If not get a helmet with a peak,all mine have and I don't have a problem with sunstrike.

[Beemer]

Sorry Oakie, my fault! I posted about the change in rego fees then someone replied to the thread in the biker law forum so I thought I better delete it before I get done for reposting, but I couldn't delete it so I had to some up with something fast! You must have been posting at the same time I was doing the alterations!

I just remembered I have a Nolan with a peak, so I could use that during winter. It's not the most comfortable or quietest helmet but it sounds like it would do the business!

Thanks guys.

[Finn]

People put a strip of black insulation tape just above eye level so by tilting your head down you can shade your eyes.


Wouldn't that hurt when you ripped it off?

[Oakie]

Sorry Oakie, my fault! I posted about the change in rego fees then someone replied to the thread in the biker law forum so I thought I better delete it before I get done for reposting, but I couldn't delete it so I had to some up with something fast! You must have been posting at the same time I was doing the alterations!

I just remembered I have a Nolan with a peak, so I could use that during winter. It's not the most comfortable or quietest helmet but it sounds like it would do the business!

Thanks guys.

Sweet. It's OK. It probably added to my air of mystery for a short time.
Cheers.

[John Banks]

Wouldn't that hurt when you ripped it off?

That's why you don't take it off.

[merv]

For use on our dirt bikes we bought a pair of his n hers Grex helmets with peaks on - bit like the old Nolan N70 - same thing as Motu is talking about. With a peak you just tilt your head forward a bit and you get a shaded spot on your visor to look through. The tape idea isn't as good because the rest of the visor that you actually get to look through still has the sunstrike on it.

Get a peaked helmet - presumably your old man being a dirt biker has a few of these for you to try.

Here's a few pics of ours. First pic is of me, second one is of the Mrs with my Bro - his isn't a peaked helmet, third pic all of us together.

[What?]

...Grex helmets with peaks on - bit like the old Nolan N70 ...
Is the Grex like the Nolan, or is it a re-named Nolan?

I bought one of the first N70E's in NZ and loved it. Bought a new one a dcouple of yearsback, but it is nowhere near as comfortable - OK for an hour, but gives me a sore forehead after that.
But - no sunstrike.

[crashe]

People put a strip of black insulation tape just above eye level so by tilting your head down you can shade your eyes.
I havent employed this method yet.... but may do as sunstrike is more likely with winter riding.


I have used in the past black Duct tape across the top of the clear visor and it works great.
Just tilt your head forward a bit and you wont suffer sunstrike like you have in the past.

:scooter: :scooter: :scooter:


Edit: see my avatar pic - Black tape on open visor...

[oldguy]

Any good ideas on how to beat sunstrike? I'm often asked why I don't ride to work in Palmy but the fact is, it's hard enough to see where I'm going in the car with sunnies and the visors down, let alone having the sun stream straight into my helmet and blind me!

I've got a tinted visor but at about 8am the sun is so low that it's almost impossible to see where I'm going. The same is true of the trip home about 4.30pm.

What do you guys do to get around it? Riding one-handed (with the other shading my face) is not always an option!just go to work earlyer 7.30 and leave work later or work on day light saving time, you'll miss the sunstrike.

[kickingzebra]

[quote=Warr]People put a strip of black insulation tape just above eye level so by tilting your head down you can shade your eyes.
QUOTE]

Wouldn't that hurt when you ripped it off?

The real question is what would hurt more, monobrow, or standard?

I seriously don't find that much difference between riding and driving though... Always helps to clean the visor too, Inside as well as just outside, and if you are a glasses wearer, same thing, the less crap on the lens, the less likelihood of sunstrike.

[Edbear]

[LEFT]On the topic of sunstrike, I pretty much ride everywhere with my eyes closed so no problems at all for me.]



Damn! Beat me to it!:wait:

[sunhuntin]

i wear sunglasses, so that tends to help, though i think they could stand to be darker. mainly, if im riding into a setting/rising sun, i wind up squinting and just deal. i figure its just one more thing about being a biker. lol.

headlights on an open road on the other hand....:angry:

[Pixie]

reverse your helmet

[TerminalAddict]

:shifty: but then it will fill with water when it rains :shifty:

[merv]

Is the Grex like the Nolan, or is it a re-named Nolan?



Got ours at Sawyers before we went away on April hols and think they are associated with Nolan (cheap too!!). Can't seem to buy the N70 any more. Only hassle I have with Nolan type hats is they don't have very good ear pockets and you have to piss around getting your ears comfortable when you put them on as they are kinda of flat in the lining on the sides. In that sense I still prefer our HJC hats for the road as they have a far more comfortable interior, but for the dirt we wanted something light and airy - these things have a whole lot of extra air vents over road type helmets as well as the peak. I used to be an open face dirt biker, tried the motocross type with the chin bar but I'm not hard out enough for those and wanted to do some road work too like on adventure rides. So they would be great for commuting at not too high a speed particularly in the summer.

[Beemer]

just go to work earlyer 7.30 and leave work later or work on day light saving time, you'll miss the sunstrike.

Afraid that doesn't work! I am on contract and working in a building that has alarms - if I get there before 8am I can't get in, and if I work later than 5.30pm I have the same problem getting out!

I agree with the comments about the Nolan. Mine makes my ears hurt after about an hour - so it would be okay for the 30 minute trip to work - I don't know how I coped for two weeks when we went down south.

I don't fancy the idea of duct tape on the visor though - at $165 for my last tinted visor, I'm not in a hurry to wreck the coating!

[crashe]

I don't fancy the idea of duct tape on the visor though - at $165 for my last tinted visor, I'm not in a hurry to wreck the coating!

Once the duc tape is on ... it stays on... you never take it off EVER.

It never ruined my visor at all.
My visor only wears out when it gets scratched on the lower part that I have to look out from.. Those damned mossies scratch it when they hit it...

:scooter: :scooter: :scooter:

[merv]

I don't fancy the idea of duct tape on the visor though - at $165 for my last tinted visor, I'm not in a hurry to wreck the coating!

As I said above its no use anyway because it doesn't actually shade the visor even if its shading your eyes, whereas a peak does create the nice clear shaded band you can look through with no flares from sunstrike.

p.s. what are we doing on the computer at this hour? Well its damn wet and miserable outside and I was happy to sleep in and now getting some tasty lunch on all with the gas fire going. No sunstrike today.

[cooneyr]

The helmets are a Grex RD1 (made by Nolan it would seem). I have one too and find the ear thing a pain to but not as much as the rain at 100kph with MX helmet. The helmet comes with extra side plates (well mine did) that let you take the peak off so you get a street looking helment with a darth vader mouth peace LOL.

Linky here

http://www.grex.it/a/prod_grex.asp?c=&f=7

Cheers
R

[Swoop]

A decent pair of sunnies. I have a clear visor which gets opened up, and there are no issues at all with this setup.
On Aucklands North Western M-way, in the morning you travel straight into the rising sun. The cagers slow right down because of it:sunny: . I notice that they also do not like changing lanes at this point - filterer's paradise!:scooter:

[snuffles]

I used to think Oakie was normal......

On the topic of sunstrike, I pretty much ride everywhere with my eyes closed so no problems at all for me.

Actually, I got a VPS (http://www.nolan.it/)system for my Nolan N100E. Bloody Brilliant.

I concur, got the same thing works a treat

[Lou Girardin]

People put a strip of black insulation tape just above eye level so by tilting your head down you can shade your eyes.
I havent employed this method yet.... but may do as sunstrike is more likely with winter riding.

This works.

[pritch]

I don't fancy the idea of duct tape on the visor though - at $165 for my last tinted visor, I'm not in a hurry to wreck the coating!

I've mentioned this before but I use a Helmet Sunblocker

http://www.helmetsunblocker.com/#SUNBLOCKER

It ain't cheap but it isn't *that* expensive either. You can transfer it from helmet to helmet and it doesn't damage anything, (you stick it on the inside of the visor with a diswashing liquid/water mix.)

[The Pastor]

Where do u buy those helmet sunblockers?

[Biohazard]

Hmmm i've been experimenting with night riding and this appears to be a good way around the Sunstrike problem:blah:

[Kendog]

Can you get a plastic film tint, like the self tinting stuff, that is reuseable and removeable? (having trouble explaining).
Just thinking of a tinting something that you can take on and off your visor depending upon whether it is sunny or dark, that you can roll up into a thing to put in your pocket and if it gets sunny you smooth it onto your visor and if it gets dark you can peel it off, back in the pocket to reuse next time.
Anyone know of a product like that? (Anyone understand what I'm talking about):doobey: (Is there anybody out there?) LOL.:bye:
Mrs KD.

[Blind spot]

I was battling the sun strike this morning on the greenhithe bridge, next thing the small truck 2 cars ahead decides his window is so dirty he had better wash it.
No water hit the truck window or the car behind him just shot 4-5 metres in the air and straight over me,washed bike and rider.
So much for me keeping a safe following distance.
Buggar

[sels1]

I have a strip of black tape on the BOTTOM of my visor - when I have sunstrike I just flip the visor open and use the taped bit as a shade peak - adjusted to suit. When the visor is down the taped bit is out of sight.
Mostly ride with the visor up under 80k anyway.
Wearing glasses helps keep the bugs out of my eyes...

[pritch]

Can you get a plastic film tint, like the self tinting stuff, that is reuseable and removeable? (having trouble explaining).
Mrs KD.

The thing that I was talking about can be removed and replaced but it would be a pain in the arse to do it that frequently. On the other hand you look under it, not through it, unless you want to as in sudden sun strike... So you shouldn't have to.

[Kendog]

Yep, know what you're talking about Mr Pritch.

I was considering buying a tinted visor, but would then probably always have to carry my clear one spare, just in case I get caught out in the dark, and thought that a plastic film, reuseable, washable thing, that you can roll up and carry in a pocket and it adheres (but not with a sticky glue type stuff, more like static or something, I don't know, I'm not a scientist) to visor and then peels off to be used again, would be a perfect fix for this problem.
If nobody makes them, why not, and who do I sell my idea to??? haha.

[sAsLEX]

Can you get a plastic film tint, like the self tinting stuff, that is reuseable and removeable? (having trouble explaining).
Just thinking of a tinting something that you can take on and off your visor depending upon whether it is sunny or dark, that you can roll up into a thing to put in your pocket and if it gets sunny you smooth it onto your visor and if it gets dark you can peel it off, back in the pocket to reuse next time.
Anyone know of a product like that? (Anyone understand what I'm talking about):doobey: (Is there anybody out there?) LOL.:bye:
Mrs KD.

A member on here speaks of a visor insert something like what you talk about, just got a new camera from south taranaki... I am bad with names..... soundbeltfarm it is, yeah he was talking about them one day I am fairly certain.

[Wolf]

The helmets are a Grex RD1 (made by Nolan it would seem). I have one too and find the ear thing a pain to but not as much as the rain at 100kph with MX helmet. The helmet comes with extra side plates (well mine did) that let you take the peak off so you get a street looking helment with a darth vader mouth peace LOL.

Linky here

http://www.grex.it/a/prod_grex.asp?c=&f=7

Cheers
R
Thanks for the link, cooneyr and thanks also to merv for suggesting them.

I've been wanting a decent helmet with the MX style peak and a visor - sunstrike is a problem every morning and most evenings when I commute. I'll check out the grex for fit and comfort. Here's hoping, eh.

[Wolf]

Wandered down to the local $2 shop with my helmet at lunchtime, found a pair of sunglasses that would fit on my nose whilst I was wearing my prescription glasses - could see the top of the prescription glasses peeking over the top of the sunnies but no matter, the sunnies covered my entire field of vision. Put on my helmet and prescription glasses and ensured I could slip the sunnies on - OK, so I bought them. At $2 if they get lost or damaged or don't work, who gives a shit!

May well try the Duct tape bit as well. My visor is past it anyway and I have to buy a new helmet as mine is past its 5-year lifespan so I'm not too worried about what I do to my existing helmet so long as I don't totally obscure my vision. If I could find the peak off my old FFM "Predator" ("adventure helmet", visored semi-MX helmet) I'd consider afixing it to the visor of my current helmet so that it's in place when the visor is down.

Will try a combo of sunnies and the duct tape tomorrow morning if it's as clear and frosty as it was today. (And it'd better be, and likewise on Saturday as well as I want to go for a proper ride rather than farting around commuting!)

Ride into the East every morning and it's a hassle riding one-handed around some corners, "saluting the sun" with my clutch hand, just so I can see where the road is and what's on it and having to shade my eyes while stopped at the lights just so I can see when they turn green then having to quickly drop my hand to the throttle and ride practically blind across the intersection until such time as I can spare my clutch hand again.

Edit: If that Grex fits me properly, I know what I'll be getting as my next helmet (unless some kindly soul donates $600 to me to purchase a Nolan N102 or similar).

[Ixion]

There is a good , and simple , solution to this problem.

All you need is one of the old style cloth caps. Extra large size. Fasten it to the top of your helmet, securing it either with some elastic under your chin (pretty pink ribbons are an optional alternative for chicks and Maurice), or by attaching it to a convenient vent protusion.

When the sun is bad, pull it forward so that the peak of the cap shades your eyes. Push it back when not required.

The peak is flexible enough that it will just bend upward when you raise the visor.

Sorted. Don't thank me, just buy me a beer. Speights, of course.

(suitable caps are available from gents' outfitters and all quality haberdashers, in a range of fashionable checks, tweeds and patterns. )

[Wolf]

All you need is one of the old style cloth caps.
And then take up smoking a pipe and wearing brown suede jackets

[Ixion]

Nay, suede' s nay gud, ye can't get the coal dust hout ov hit , hafter thou'st bin darn t'pit.

[Wolf]

Nay, suede' s nay gud, ye can't get the coal dust hout ov hit , hafter thou'st bin darn t'pit.
Aye, an' suede's a bituva looksury, innit?

[kickingzebra]

But if you are to wear a hat as such, you are compelled to bare your buttocks to all whom you may pass... A la Molestrangler...

[Kendog]

A member on here speaks of a visor insert something like what you talk about, just got a new camera from south taranaki... I am bad with names..... soundbeltfarm it is, yeah he was talking about them one day I am fairly certain.

Cool, thanks, will do a search and see if I can find some info! Cheers.

[merv]

Edit: If that Grex fits me properly, I know what I'll be getting as my next helmet (unless some kindly soul donates $600 to me to purchase a Nolan N102 or similar).

Sawyers showed me the Arai Tour X helmet and it was good but around $800, so we bought the GRex for about $180 seeing my head has already depreciated somewhat being the age it is.

[Wolf]

Sawyers showed me the Arai Tour X helmet and it was good but around $800, so we bought the GRex for about $180 seeing my head has already depreciated somewhat being the age it is.
The Grex, cheap tho' it is, will be a DOT or ECE approved lid made of polycarbonate - which means it'd be easier on your skull in a crash than any of the Snell approved helmets as the Snell helmets transfer more energy to the skull than most DOT or ECE helmets.

Sounds fine to me and at a decent price.

If the thing doesn't fit (hope its shape is not like that of my wife's Nolan) and I'm forced to buy a dearer helmet without the peak, I'll be pissed...

[Street Gerbil]

What do you guys do to get around it?
I have very light sensitive eyes (all gerbils are :yes:)and for that reason I wear a motocross helmet. Helps A LOT!!! One day I will buy myself one of those (available at Colemans):

[Wolf]

I have very light sensitive eyes (all gerbils are :yes:)and for that reason I wear a motocross helmet. Helps A LOT!!! One day I will buy myself one of those (available at Colemans):
The Arai XD - looks good (better in black - Motard Black or Pearl Black doesn't matter, they always look better in black...)

I've put the duct tape across the visor and I'll see how that works tomorrow when I ride into the rising sun (not quite as romantic as the riding into the setting sun they do in the movies. In fact, quite fittingly, it's quite the opposite.)

[Wolf]

The duct tape worked a treat. I had my visor up and the sun was streaming into my eyes, I dropped the visor into position and "bye-bye glare". No impairment to visibility through packed streets with lots of corners and intersections. Wish I'd known about that trick (or thought of it myself) ages back.

It's not an elegant solution, but it's a working one. All told it was quick, simple and required nothing that I did not already have to hand. It'll certainly suffice until I can locate and purchase a suitable "adventure helmet".

I'm not worried that it might "look funny" to others - I must have looked even funnier last night, standing in front of the mirror with my helmet on and drawing lines on the visor with a Vivid marker! :weird:

[Wolf]

Went on a 148km ride yesterday over hilly winding terrain where you can round a corner and find yourself looking directly into the sun pretty-near any time of the day - prime territory for sudden sun strike. In addition to the duct tape on the visor I was wearing sunglasses (cheap $2-Shop ones worn, in my case, in front of my prescription glasses).

Had no problem with glare or sunstrike all day and suffered no impairment to my visibility in some fairly gnarly terrain where good visibility is crucial.

I certainly noticed the sun when I lifted the visor to take pictures and it was always a relief to close the visor down and get some shade on my eyes.

[Wolf]

I brought up the sunstrike issue on the XT225 foruma and one of the riders came up with this link:

http://www.super-visor.com/

It fits onto the helmet's visor (using spacers if necessary to get the height right) and acts a s a sun shield. Apparently the venting in it allows wind to be funnelled up over the top of the helmet and reduce buffeting and helmet noise.

[blacksheep]

That's why you don't take it off.
wouldn't that make it look like you had a mono brow?

[Wolf]

wouldn't that make it look like you had a mono brow?
The duct tape is on my helmet all th time and whe I went on a long ride I was wearing sunglasses in front of my prescription glasses. No one got close enough to see how much of a dick I looked and if they had...

...so long as I wasn't blinded by the sun to the point of having an accident, who cares how it looked?

[blacksheep]

The duct tape is on my helmet all th time and whe I went on a long ride I was wearing sunglasses in front of my prescription glasses. No one got close enough to see how much of a dick I looked and if they had...

...so long as I wasn't blinded by the sun to the point of having an accident, who cares how it looked?
its supposed to be a joke-i know it was the helmet visor that you put the tape on! doh:yes:

[Wolf]

its supposed to be a joke-i know it was the helmet visor that you put the tape on! doh:yes:
Oh, didn't realise you were referring to putting the tape on the face. Yep, that'd look like a monobrow all right.

Take it off and you'd have no brows... :eek:

[kickingzebra]

Which opens up a whole new line of debate... Brazilian by duct tape...

[Wolf]

Which opens up a whole new line of debate... Brazilian by duct tape...
Trust the Christians to lower the tone of the thread! :devil2:

[kickingzebra]

That implies the marriage bed is not holy?! LOL
Everyone is here for a purpose. Mine is partly paradigm shifter ;)

[XF650]

I brought up the sunstrike issue on the XT225 foruma and one of the riders came up with this link:

http://www.super-visor.com/

It fits onto the helmet's visor (using spacers if necessary to get the height right) and acts a s a sun shield. Apparently the venting in it allows wind to be funnelled up over the top of the helmet and reduce buffeting and helmet noise.

Has anyone actually seen these visors & if so, do they work?

[Wolf]

Has anyone actually seen these visors & if so, do they work?
According to Kathy on the XT225 forum, they can be installed permanently or with clips to allow removal. She installed hers with the clips, found it great going into the sun and no noticeable lift at higher speeds thanks to the venting.

Don't know if they're locally available or whether you'd have to order from overseas.